Alexa

Smart assistants don't make headlines these days, at least not until they get involved in some privacy-related scandal. That doesn't mean, however, that they have gone out of fashion. On the contrary, they have almost become so common in some homes that they've no longer become special or noteworthy. At least not until they get new features that offer to make life easier, especially during these times of isolation and quarantines.

Bang & Olufsen has updated its Bluetooth portable speaker, boosting battery life and adding Alexa support to the new Beosound A1 2nd Gen. An update to the old Beoplay A1, the puck-shaped speaker now allows you to chat with Amazon's virtual assistant, albeit assuming your smartphone is nearby.

Different tech companies have had their own ways to respond to the pandemic gripping the entire world but Amazon may be the one with the largest coverage as far as services and products go. From deliveries to entertainment to smart devices, the retail giant is busy not just responding to the crisis but also responding to criticisms and allegations. Its latest action to respond to the call of the times is to equip Alexa and its line of smart speakers and displays with information and content to keep people connected to the outside world even when stuck at home.

Retro speaker company Marshall has announced its latest portable speaker product: Uxbridge. The new model functions as a smart speaker, meaning users can summon and use Amazon Alexa alongside expected wireless connection options like Bluetooth, Airplay 2, and WiFi. The model brings the same classic Marshall design as the company's other more modern speakers, as well as physical button controls.

A slightly convoluted set of steps appeared this week on Atom Tickets with an end-goal of a single free movie ticket to a film of the user's choice. The folks at Atom Tickets likely enabled this promotional bit of work in order to tie users' minds to the idea that ordering a movie ticket via Alexa (and Atom) would be the best (and most default) way to go through the future. In any case - it might be worth the process, depending on movie ticket prices in your area.

Amazon rolled out a number of new features for its Alexa personal assistant over the month of February, ones you may not have realized arrived. The new features are convenient for a wide number of users, including for people who regularly commute to work or school, basketball fans, and for anyone who lives in a region prone to severe weather. As previously announced, the personal assistant can also offer 2020 election updates, as well.

The Samsung smart speaker called Galaxy Home Mini leaked in a release-ready configuration today tossing a jab at Apple's smart assistant Siri (unofficially, of course). The video comes courtesy of an unnamed source* who would appear to have been at a location where several new Samsung products were being shown. This new smart speaker will apparently allow you, the user to "make it say literally anything you want" - like what we see in the video below: "At least I'm better than Siri."

Fiat Chrysler has revealed its new infotainment platform, Uconnect 5, with features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, and support for bigger, higher-resolution touchscreens. The latest version is based on Android, which FCA says will pave the way to new applications that could later enhance and expand a car's abilities.

NEON is an artificial intelligence project, aka "artificial human" project from a Samsung-backed group called STAR Labs. This is not the same as S.T.A.R. Labs from DC Comics, and the artificial human isn't an android. Instead, it's more like a chat bot. Lots of jargon and buzz-words were shared today by the head of the project, Pranav Mistry.

The folks at Sengled brought a very vintage-looking piece of tech to Las Vegas this week, to CES 2020. This is the Sengled Smart LED Edison Filament Bulb, with a design that's decidedly old-school. Sengled also has a set of new smart (and not so smart) lighting and smart home solutions out at CES 2020, including Smart LED Candle Light Bulbs, a new Smart Hub, and a Smart Plug with Energy Monitoring.

Lamborghini is adding Alexa as co-pilot on its Huracán EVO sports car, with Amazon's assistant being embedded into the dashboard this year. The infotainment upgrade will allow for voice control not only over the usual Alexa features like general knowledge questions and entertainment, but of the car's own functionality too.

Are you ready for the brave new world of Digital Showering? Kohler certainly hopes so, the bathroom company continuing its geek-upgrade with a new showerhead with Amazon Alexa baked in, a smarter toilet with touch-free flush, and a shower system that looks more like a Star Trek prop. Getting wet has never been so exciting.